To The Golf Courses of Yesteryear

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Aberlour Golf Club, Moray. (1905 - WW2)

In December 1905 a public meeting was held, with Provost Jupp in the chair, to discuss the pressing need of a golf course for the area. Aberlour had become a popular summer holiday resort and the course had finally come to fruition after several years of trying. The following committee were elected; Provost Jupp, W Philip M.A, A H Duff, Craigellachaie, J M Strachan M.A, James M McGowan, Donald Morrison, J C Coulbrough, Alexander Morrison and R G Morrison. Land had been acquired on reasonable terms from Mr Hamilton Grant. Patrons were; Mr Hamilton Grant and JohnR Findlay of Aberlour; president, Provost Jupp; vice-presidents, J F Cumming, The Dowans and Rev J Smith Sloss.

The nine-hole course was opened in glorious weather on Wednesday 6th June 1906 by Mr J W Hamilton Grant of Wester Elchies. The course was laid out on a terrace beside the River Spey, the first tee was a five minute walk from the railway station. At the opening ceremony the captain, James M Strachan, asked Mrs Hamilton Grant to accept a golf cleek, suitably inscribed, as a momento of the occasion. At the conclusion of the proceedings tea was served and a number of photographs were taken.

Following is a great description of the course taken from The Aberdeen Journal in June 1906; “At the present time the course is in rather a rough condition, and the presence of so many daisies necessitates a good deal of searching for lost balls. In time, with the ground constantly played over and well tramped, the turf will improve greatly. Difficulties will be met with at the eighth, in crossing the public road, and players will have to exercise great care. The elevated situation of the ground affords a magnificent view of the Spey Valley and encircling hills. The third hole is perhaps the most sporting. There are about 40 members of the club.

The first hole, about 120 yards long, is a good iron shot, while a rapid burn, a fence and rough country before the green is reached. The second is a blind hole, the drive being up the hill to the green in the corner of the course. Hole three is a neat cleek shot and accurate is necessary to avoid going out of bounds. The fourth hole, 205 yards, is a good one. The drive should find the green but a wood on the right will severely punish a loose ball. The fifth hole, 221 yards, requires careful consideration. Following a straight drive there must be an accurate approach to keep within bounds to avoid dropping a shot. The green, like the others, is on a small scale, and in the least thing overdriven, the ball may reach a ditch, out of which it is hardly possible to play. The sixth hole, 215 yards, presents no particular difficulty it is a drive and a half iron. The seventh hole, 151 yards, will penalise the golfer if the ball is pulled. The drive from the eighth hole must take the ball over the public road if the player means to hole out with a fair score. Otherwise he may find a ditch and lose two strokes. The green, all pasture, is the best of the nine, and is fenced to stop sheep spoiling it. The last hole is a short mashie pitch to the home green”

Result of the monthly medal played in September 1906; Mr Coubrough, 90-9-81; Mr Goldie, 88-6-82; Mr Johnson, 94-12-82; Mr Henderson, 96-12-84; J Thomson, 93-9-84; Mr Strachan, 91-6-85. The course was reported to be in great condition.

Below is the result of a match played at Keith Golf Club on Saturday 28th September 1907.

Keith Golf Club

Aberlour Golf Club

D J Corrigal

0

J M Strachan

1

P Laing

0

W Goldie

1

J Mitchell jnr

1

G Coubrough

0

W M McConnachie

0

D Morrison

1

R Hendry

1

J Thomson

0

F W Grieve

1

A Auchinachie

0

G R Mair

1

R J Morrison

0

W Munro

0

A Price

1

4

4

The annual meeting was held in May 1909. Mr Goldie, the secretary and treasurer, submitted the reports which were considered satisfactory. The following officers were elected for the year; Patrons – Mr J W H Grant of Wester Elchies, Mr J R Findlay and Captain Waring M.P; president, Provost Jupp; vice-presidents - Rev J S Sloss and Mr J F Cumming; captain; William Goldie; vice-captain, Mr Strachan; secretary, Mr J Thomson; treasurer, Mr J F McGowan. It was decided to hold a jumble sale on June 23rd to help raise funds for the club to further improve the course. Six new members were admitted to the club.

Thirty Pounds was raised at the jumble sale and this would leave the club in a much healthier position financially. A clubhouse had been a priority for a long time and there was confidence that this aim could now be achieved.

Below is the result of a match played against Dufftown on Tuesday 6th July 1909 at Aberlour. After the match the teams were served tea by the lady members in the pavilion. So it appears that there was now a clubhouse, quick work!

Aberlour Golf Club

Dufftown Golf Club

Mr Slater

1

Mr Eadie

0

Mr Strachan

0

Mr Reid

1

Mr Goldie

1

Mr Mundy

0

Mr Thomson

0

Mr Gray

1

Mr D Morrison

0

Mr Duncan

1

Mr Raffan

0

Mr Watt senior

1

Mr Martin

0

Mr Mair

1

Mr A Thomson

0

Mr Craig

1

Mr Fairburn

0

Mr Watt junior

1

2

7

The “new” pavilion was opened on Wednesday 8th June 1910 by Mr Goldie I.R.

Things seemed to move on during the mid 1920s with various fund raising events arranged during this period.

In July 1927 there was a large gathering in the Fleming Hall. Mr J M R Stewart , chemist, explained that the meeting had been called by Messrs. McIntyre, Andrew, W Orr, Jas A Walker, and himself to lay before the public particulars regarding the negotiations for a golf course.

It was announced in January 1928 that a new golf course was being laid out at the Muir of Rothrie. Various fund raising events were arranged during this period to help with the cost of the course.

It was reported in May 1928 that “the usual complement of Aberdonians visited Aberlour. The weather was fine and the golf course seemed to be the main attraction”.

At the annual meeting in February 1929 the balance sheet was produced and showed a balance in hand of £97. The retiring captain, Mr J M R Stewart, gave an outline of the work done since the inception of the club eighteen months ago, and the meeting expressed its approval for the very satisfactory condition of the course and funds. The following officers were appointed; president, Mr J F Cumming, The Dowans; captain, Mr A F MacIntyre; vice-captain, Mr J A J Munro; secretary and treasurer, Mr A W Orr, Union Bank. The green-keeper was C Coutts. The course was of nine holes with a membership of 100. Visitors’ fees were; 7/6d a month; there was no Sunday play. The station at Aberlour was 1 mile away. Local hotels were the Aberlour, Glen Morag (Glenmorag?), Lour and Strathspey.

A mixed foursome competition was played in June 1929. The winners were; Mr J M R Stewart, Pacific Terrace, and Miss T Cameron, Aberlour Hotel; runners-up, Mr F Treacher, Macallan, and Miss Shewan, Rinnachat. The prizes were presented by Mrs Treacher and the players were entertained to tea by Mrs Forsyth, Muir of Ruthie. The MacIntyre medal was won by Ian C Morrison, runner-up was J M R Stewart.

On Saturday June 22nd 1929 a sum of £251 was raised at a “Golf Fair” at Aberlour School. The money would be put towards a clubhouse and pavilion.

In October 1929 Mr A W Orr, secretary, was leaving the area for Ballater. He was presented by the members with a wallet of Treasury notes as a parting gift in appreciation of his valuable service to the club.

The new clubhouse pavilion, costing £250, was opened on Wednesday 21st May 1930 by Mrs Cumming of The Dowans, wife of the captain, J F Cumming ex-Convener of Morayshire. Mrs Fleming declared the course open for the season and her grandchild, Master Miller Stirling, who was presented with an inlaid golf walking stick, drove off the first ball. George E Smith, the Moray professional and ex Scottish champion, afterwards partnered A A Phimister, the Grantown professional, in an exhibition match. Smith completed the nine-holes in a bogey 36, against Phimister’s 41.

The winner of the club championship (The Cumming Cup) played in September 1935 was William Barron, assistant teacher, Aberlour Secondary School, the runner-up was Henry Kelman, merchant.

Charles Coutts the former green-keeper at the club died in October 1936 aged 77. His genial personality made him a favourite with the members.

In the mid 1930s the secretary was James Milne, Glen Morag. Membership was 125. Visitors’ fees were; 1/- a round, 1/6d a day, 3/- a week, 5/- a fortnight and 7/6d a month.

In June 1937 Aberlour played a home match against Tomintoul, the home team winning by one match.

In September 1937 a concert was held in the Fleming Hall in aid of the Aberlour Golf Club. Sir Edmund Findlay, Bart., presided over a large audience. During the interval Lady Findlay, Aberlour House, presented the silver challenge cups to Dr Beatrice M Sellar, Dunleigh, and Mr Millar, Dailuaine, Carron, as the two golf champions for last year. Mr Henry Kelman, secretary of the club, for organising the entertainment.

A sale of work was organised at the Fleming Hall in aid of club funds in November 1937. Mrs George Grant of Glenfarclas spoke and said what a great asset a golf course was to any district. “Any place that has not got a golf course nowadays” she said “is very much behind the times. Mr James Lawrence, Craigellachie, who was in the chair, said the present club had been formed ten years ago, and despite difficulties in raising the necessary funds to keep it going, it had been very successful. The course was an excellent one, much better than they thought it would be. He went on to say that the purpose of this event was to try to raise funds for the machinery that had recently been purchased for £100. Thanks were passed to the club captain, Mr W Barron, the vice-captain, Mr R Tocher and the secretary, Mr H C Kelman.

In delightful weather the Aberlour course was open for the season in April 1938 by the captain, William Miller, Carron. A Match was played between teams selected by the captain and the vice-captain, Mr Fred Hendry.

The Google Map below pinpoints Muir of Rothie location of the later Aberlour course.